Prosiana. The Biggest, the First and the Unusual

Prosiana — a village in the Dnipropetrovsk region that emerged at the end of the 19th century. Today, in this village — which 30–40 years ago was promising and looked no worse than a town — there are more downsides than upsides. My walk through this settlement, «golden» in the past, took me about 3 hours, and here is what I managed to learn and see. 

Chasiv Yar. The Shukhov Water Tower: Demolish or Save?

The year 2019 in the town of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, was marked by a fateful decision concerning a unique monument of engineering architecture — the water tower of V. H. Shukhov. After many years of neglect and oblivion, this avant-garde architectural masterpiece faced demolition, but thanks to the efforts of the public the tower was saved from being cut up for scrap metal.

Chasiv Yar. Donetsk region. The water tower of the engineer V. H. Shukhov

Bakhmut. The World of Sparkling Wines

A New Year's table is hard to imagine without a bottle of sparkling wine, which creates a wonderful sense of celebration. With a glass of champagne we make a wish. How is it born, in what conditions is it made, and do we know how to drink the magical beverage? About this and much else you can learn by visiting the sparkling-wine factory in Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region.

Bakhmut, the sparkling-wine factory. Dionysus with the maenads in the tasting hall

Kostiantynivka. The architectural symbols of a weary city

There are cities that grow weary of people and their activity. The era of development ends, and a stage of decay sets in — of enterprises, roads, buildings, historical and cultural treasures. In Kostiantynivka, in the Donetsk region, the depressed state of its industrial and social-amenity facilities was evident long before 2014.

Kostiantynivka. Oleksa Tykhy St. The city council

Avdiivka. Peace without war

Avdiivka awaiting peace. The town and its main enterprise — the Avdiivka Coke Chemical Plant — have been in the combat zone for a fourth year now.

Avdiivka. The coke chemical plant — one of the largest producers of coke for metallurgy in Europe